ROMANESQUE
A. INTRODUCTION
1 DEFINITION: Artistic style that domain western and southern Europe from the 11th to the 12th century
2 CHRISTIANITY: was essential for Romanesque. The style depicted the Glory of God.
3 FOR THE EXPANSION: Cult of the Relic: venerated in churches Pilgrimage routes: romanesque was
developed throughout the main routes (Santiago de Compostela, Jerusalem, Rome)
1 ILLITERATE: most of medieval people did not know to read or write.
2 LATIN: was the main language.
3 MONASTERIES: were centres of culture and learning.
B. ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE- Used in churches and monasteries
- Stone made
- Thick walls
- Small windows – Dark interiors
ELEMENTS:
- Semicircular arches
- Barrel vaults
- Buttresses outside
- Pillars and colums
FLOOR
PLAN
Latin cross
ROMANESQUE CHURCH: PARTS
C. MONASTERIES
1)- Inhabited by monastic orders.
2)- Follow strick monastic rules, and the tree vows: obedience, poverty and chastity.
3)- Important orders:
a) Benedictine Order (from 6th century)
b)Cistercian Order (from the 12th century)
4)Daily life:
a) marked by the monk’s timetable
b)centred on prayer and work (ora et labora)
5)Some monks copied Latin manuscript in the Scriptorium
C. ROMANESQUE PAINTINGFACTORS:
- All people were catholic
- Most of were illiterate
SO:
- Paintings tried to be educational, moralising and decorative
1)CHARACTERISTICS:
2) Expression: big eyes
3) No depth, no perspective, no volume
4) Thick outlines and uniform colours
5) No movement
6) Hierarchical figures: most important figures are bigger
7) People were forward-facing
8) Fresco paintings: Depicted in walls and domes
9) Little empty spaces (horror vacui)
10)Religious themes: from bible
11)Symbols:
a) PANTOCRATOR: Christ in Majesty in a almond (mandorla)
b) TETRAMORPH: symbols of the four evangelist:i) Jhon: Eagle
ii) Matthew: Angel
iii) Mark: Lion
iv) Luke: Bull
c) THEOTOKOS: Mother of God. Virgin as the throne of baby Christ
D. ROMANESQUE SCULPTURE
1)No expresions
2)Distorted figures
3)Hierarchical figures: most important figures are bigger
4)Hieratic figures: serius, spirituals
5)No depht
6)No movement
7)No comunication between figures
8)Themes: religious, Christ, Saints, Virgin as throne of baby Christ. Also everyday life, animals and plants.
9)Places: capitals, carvings, wood and entrances
ENTRANCES
- Tympanum: it contain the main sculptural scene- Tympanum: it contain the main sculptural scene